A Baby Story

Before I got married I used to be able to watch "A Baby Story" on TLC. It seemed so wonderful & you felt so happy for the couples. Once I was married it was alot harder to watch. I started identifying with the women. That could be me one day crying & begging to be put out of my misery. I wouldn't do it with a camera in my face though. I had to stop watching the show. Now that I am pregnant I thought I'd give it ago again. Maybe I could find some confidence about the birth or some pointers.

Why does Mike let me watch this show?!? I am less confident than ever! I see women on this show (many already have children, so they should know) going into the hospital laughing & joking. Minutes later they are crying, they can't go on & begging to just have the child removed. Yikes!!! Also, I find it a bit cruel to describe the mother as being "uncomfortable". Seems like she is in a "helluva lotta" pain to me! Wouldn't that diagnosis be a little more accurate? Anyway I absolutely plan on having an epidural, but I know it could take a long time. They don't just hand out the goods right away & I could be in labor 20+ hours.

I've decided not to watch the show anymore.

Day 9 of the watch...and we're still clear!

The Nursery

It's official we have started the nursery!!! Walls have been painted. This is a very exciting development. We also went crib shopping...and came home with one(this is not our nursery- just a picture of the crib we purchased)! USA Baby was having a clearance sale this Saturday. We went there w/a certain crib in mind. We asked questions about it, researched it, we played with it, we ordered the teething rails & we had the salesperson writing up the pick-up ticket. As we're sitting there waiting for the salesperson to ring everything up we are staring @ this other crib. It was nice looking, seemed solid & we both agreed we liked it better. It only cost a little more than the one we had previously researched...so we threw everything out the window & changed our minds. We went to the pick up bay to get the crib. We were in Mike's Outback & had been previously assured by the salesperson the original crib would fit in his car so we just assumed so would this one. Nope! As soon as they pulled the crib up to the car the stock guy says "The Sydney's not going to fit in there". We had to go all the way back home, get my car & pick up the crib. I've attached a picture in case anyone is interested and once we got home I researched the new crib. It also seems to be highly rated, we got lucky. Dumb luck I'm sure.

Day 6 of the watch & we're still in the clear. Woo hoo!!

Glucose Test

Today I had my 28 week MD appt. That means I also did the dreaded glucose test. I had to drink a Hawaiian Punch flavored sugar slurry. It didn't taste that bad but I feel like it was 100 % sugar. I really didn't feel that great after drinking it. The worst part was I had to have a blood draw also this a.m.. I don't do very well with those & the phlebotomist has me lay down each time since I almost fainted once. It's not the pain of the needle- I think it's the tourniquet, the slapping of my vein & the poking. I've been told I have small veins & it's always an issue finding one for a good blood letting- well this a.m. they had to do it twice. The 1st vein gave up 4 drops & then I was told the 2nd vein was a "runner". That means it moves around when they poke it. If that grosses you out reading about it imagine laying on the table hearing it.

Also I am going to have to watch my weight. Ugh story of my life. I've put on about 30lbs already. I've been told by several people that I don't look very big but I guess the MD doesn't go by looks. I secretly had only hoped to gain about 15lb but what were the chances of that. The MD says the baby is about 3lbs & if we have an 8lb kid Mike reasons I should put on about 80lbs. I don't think that is going to happen but I will just have to be a little more careful. How many calories do you think were in that sugar drink?

Day 3 of stretch mark watch...still in the clear. Also, Rooney has been kicking up quite a little storm the last 2 days. This morning I could feel him on both sides of my stomach. That was pretty weird because when he's move/kick it almost felt like the stomach of my stomach were being sucked in. 12 weeks to go & word on the street is we're going to start the nursery this weekend. I'm a little stressed about time & good god the cost of this baby furniture. We may make a purchase this weekend though.

Stretch Mark Watch 2005

As I am heading into my 3rd trimester I find myself watching more & more for stretch marks. Honestly, I assume I'll get them, but I held out the possibility of not getting them since my sister-in-law did not. I've used the cocoa butter almost every day since I found out I was pregnant & rumor has it if you are a little older there may be some hope. Day 1...free and clear.

Also today I attempted to do my @ home Pilates for Pregnancy. I waited quite a while for this DVD to come (for some reason Netflix kept refusing to send it). Now that I have it in my clutches I find I'm really not that interested. I got through the warm up & about an 1/8th of the workout. Now the boys did keep distracting me- barking @ the mail man, garbage truck & every school bus that passed, but I half-heartedly kept turning the DVD back on until I just didn't. Maybe tomorrow we'll get a little bit further. I'm still doing my 0 incline treadmill walking. That's got to count for something.

Baby Linen Patterns,Cribs & Fathers Day

This weekend we went out again furniture shopping for the bambino. We were mainly looking @ cribs & then changing tables. Wow! Cribs are expensive! We have pretty plain tastes- our son needs a good sturdy crib- one that has height adjustment & will withstand his later jumping. These cribs all seem to convert- some to queen size beds!! I saw one that converted to a full size bed & loveseat! Once the baby is out of the crib Mike & I may have to swap beds with him because these things are definitely nicer than what we have. We are still on the search to find something reasonable, appealing to the eye, structurally sound & safe. While researching cribs I ran across a phrase I have not yet heard of..."Baby Linen Pattern". Apparently I am supposed to pick one out. What is it and why does a baby need this? I have deduced that it is the pattern you pick out & do the whole babies room in this theme. I've addressed the ridiculousness of this in a previous post. I understand if you like puppies, and you have a theme that kind of revolves around puppies, but a room totally designed around one set of sheets is too much. I'm not doing it. I know you're probably calling me a rebel right now & you'd be right! I'm going to start a new trend. Anyway nursery is still in the planning stages.

Mike's 1st official Fathers Day (we have celebrated in previous years w/Courage & Rocco) went well. He received several gifts and got to loaf around the house most of the day. I think he enjoyed it. He has already started reading to Rooney many nights. We purchased "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and Mike reads to the belly- his son. Last night was the 1st time the Rooney kicked while he was reading. I hope that he is recognizing Mike's voice & reacting to it. Rooney is not all the active right now so it seemed a good sign.

Expanding waistline

Rooney Toons I've had an ongoing debate with myself...should I take pregnancy photos or not. Most people would not want to take intentional bad photos of themselves but I feel I might somehow regret not having photos to show Rooney. I know that I enjoyed seeing prego photos of my mom & being told that was me in there. I've asked Mike to take a few- all horrible, however when I ask Mike he's normally sitting in a chair w/his laptop. All the pics seem to be at this awkward up angle. My stomach is absolutely noticeable now & almost daily Mike reminds both of us that I'm pregnant. (I thought the 20 point turn I have to do to roll over in bed was already a good reminder.) And every now & then I will catch Mike or my sister looking @ my stomach. They're always chuckling a little bit. I'll assume it's just because it's more real now. If we get a normal photo I'll post it. I'm holding off on writing about the beauty of maternity underwear until you see the photo.

Baby Sounds

Rooney Toons Yesterday we received our baby sounds cd from the Humane Society. I put the cd on right away in the office (one day to be the nursery). The 1st track is baby crying. I thought this was a good track to have turned up very loud. Courage & Rocco were very interested but they never barked. As a matter of fact they kept looking @ me like I should be doing something. I almost felt like a bad parent. They were 2 very good big brothers & checked in on the "baby" every once in awhile. Once the baby cooing track started they were done though. So baby sounds seems like it should be a success & we'll keep playing the cd.

Jazz

Rooney ToonsNightly I try to have Rooney listen to music. Normally I put Mozart on the headphones & there is little reaction. Last night I decided let's try jazz. I put on a little Charlie Parker & my boy can dance!

Baby Registry

Rooney Toons This weekend has been rough. Being as this is my 1st child there is tons of stuff you don't know (like your butt could hurt so much because your hips are spreading) and that people don't tell you (like the incredible lack of sleep before the baby is even born!!!). One of the many things I am confused on is the baby registry. When should you do this? I still don't know. However, my husband & I decided to do the bulk of registering this weekend. What a nightmare! They hand us this huge list of items considered "essentials" and we go around the store scanning items we want. My husband was really excited about the scanning. I think it reminded him of his K-Mart days. Anyway, this list is kind of nice but after hour 4 of walking around in the chaos of this store and trying to scan wanted items, we ditched the list. This list actually took me off course from my main purpose of going to the store...picking out, touching and ogling baby clothes. Baby clothes ended up being our last stop & by this point we were just scanning stuff we thought was cute. We got stuck in the bedding section. Why does everything have to be a theme? Why do you want a wall border, valance, wall hangings, lamp shades, everything to match the bedding? I plan on changing that from time to time. And why do some of these sets cost hundreds of dollars when the baby is just going to poop on it? That toy section was absolutely overwhelming as well- I can't even go into it. We totally missed the sweet baby hats, baby socks, booties etc. Ugh I was exhausted, my legs hurt & I was so tired of weighing every option. We were supposed to go look @ baby furniture also but couldn't muster the strength. Thusly, our registry still remains incomplete. And next weekend it begins again..

body shot 

It's a boy! 

Rooney Toons

Rooney ToonsOn 5/3/05 @ 5months pregnant we got the 1st look @ our son. I had always wanted a boy 1st, so of course, my whole pregnancy I resigned myself to the fact I was having a girl. I was so shocked and happy when the ultrasound confirmed it was a boy!

We've spent the last month trying to finish house projects (nursery has not been started yet) and prepare our 1st 2 children...Courage and Rocco. Both are going back through obedience training through the Humane Society and we have taken a babies & pets seminar. Also, we have completed the 1st of 3 birthing classes we are signed up for. We just finished Relaxtion & Comfort. The next is Labor & Birth & I think this one may be a big shocker for Dad. I'm sure he can handle it with a minimal amount of nightmares though.

Despite my aversion to publicly showing my body I have signed up for prenatal water aerobics class. Bathing suit shopping was hard & stressful enough but now I have 2 weeks to find a complimentary suit for my very expanding body!!! Once class starts I will be 7 months pregnant. You know there is going to be a bunch of skinny 1st & 2nd trimester ladies in there!! However, I can probably pull off the swimdress now.